More profound decentralisation will not only be a success story for Ukraine, but also a new social lift for local leaders, who use the powers and territory development resources acquired due to the reform, said Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during the round table meeting on the issues of local self-government reform.

According to him, it is necessary to enshrine irreversibility of decentralisation in the Constitution, work out initiatives on the renewal of the administrative-territorial system and hold local elections in 2020 based on new principles.

“As soon as we do that, 2020-2025 will be one of the most successful periods of state development. This will be the process of forming a new living standards for Ukrainians. How will it look like? Look at the new successful AHs that have received new financial resources, new powers. A system of real social lifts will appear. And we will have a new generation of leaders,” said Volodymyr Groysman.

He stressed that the chosen reform path “will not be trouble-free”. “But you (local leaders) have allies in the central authorities. I will adhere to this stance,” the Head of Government noted.

Background

Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman supports enshrining of the decentralisation reform irreversibility in the Constitution of Ukraine. To this end, he formed a working group that is elaborating the framework of decisions and their content. According to the Head of Government, the process of constitutional changes can start already next year.